Before You Pack
18 August 2010
Before we click on our seat belts we need to check on a few items at home first. One of the first things we do is buy a ticket and make hotel reservations. This assumes that we have our passport, yes?
I typically make reservations by contacting the airlines and hotels directly, either by phone or Internet. I have nothing against using a third party but I live in fear that something will go wrong. If you are using a travel agent then you should have no worries, as they are good at what they do. If you are like me and do your own bookings keep this in mind. If you get a special deal it may nullify cancellation policies.
When you are planning any trip, think of these questions:
What is the total cost?
What are you entitled to?
What if you can’t go at the last minute?
What is the supplier responsible for?
Do I have contact numbers, e-mail addresses and names?
Do I have all proper ID and important documents?
Always take your driver’s license.
Contact your credit and debit card companies.
The list can go on. And it should as you will not be able to just drive back home should something happen. Hopefully nothing will and you will be refereeing to me as an overprotective mother. Or something like that. Still, be prepared.
Airline Fairs
Airline fairs typically do not include tax and departure fees and these could add $100 to $150 to the price of the ticket. There have been times that you may be required to pay an additional departure fee after you check in at the airport. Most of these fees are not under the control of the airlines. Be prepared. Keep in mind that airlines post their charge for travel because this is under their control.
Airlines are imposing fees for making reservations, checking bags and fuel surcharges. These can add cost to your trip and allowances should be made for them.
Airline Reservations & the 4-Hour Rule
I made reservations with US Airways from my office computer in January 2010 and I had a problem. The reservation system would not accept my credit card information. Two representatives told me to enter US Airway’s site without using a search engine. That did not solve the problem. I then learned about the four-hour rule. One of my layovers was scheduled for 4 hours and SIX minutes. If you plan a layover greater than 4 hours the system will not accept the reservation, as it wants to treat the next flight as a new and separate reservation. One of the reps was able to make my reservation for me and at no extra cost. As their system was working properly, they could have charged me for the reservation. But they told me that other people have this problem as well.
Airline Security
One needs to check with your carrier and the TSA for latest up-dates on security issues. The liquid ban may be in effect forever but be aware that there is also a restriction on lithium batteries in checked luggage. No loose batteries are permitted. Only those inserted into the proper device can go into checked luggage. Loose lithium batteries have been known to short out and cause a fire. This does not work well in aircraft.
Airline Tickets
It is advisable to order tickets with the same name as shown on your passport. If there is a difference it can cause you a delay or prevent you from boarding. If you need to change your name on a ticket (a cause for re-issue) a substantial fee can be imposed unless you can convince the airline that it was their fault. You may also be required to present your driver’s license and tickets for passage thru security. As a gent I don’t think about this much but ladies could have a maiden name on an old ID.
Airport Departure
Typically airlines want you to print out your boarding pass as it saves them time, paper and money. Once you have a pass you just go directly to your gate and wait. On several occasions in Charlotte, prior to leaving for London, I had to get in line to have my pass checked and stamped OK. They do tell you this at the gate but so many people don’t hear it that it makes for last minute running at boarding. Be aware. Once when I flew from London to Dusseldorf I had to give back by pre-printed pass to get a new “old fashioned” paper pass; once again, at the last minute. Listen to the announcements.
ATM Cards
See Credit & Debit Cards, below.
Cell Phones
I have more on this in another document.
Credit & Debit Card Issues
These cards were made for the traveler but make sure that they work for you. Call your service and let them know when you are going and if you plan on any big purchases at Christie’s. If you don’t travel often they may think that your ID has been thieved and deny the purchase. Actually, the bank or company that issued you your card may require this. My national bank told me that a purchase overseas could cancel your card. They can also place a limit of your spending. If your card is stolen the person will not be able to clean you out. Some cards from credit unions may not work overseas.
Prepaid cash cards have been out for some time and sound like a good thing to take with you. You can buy a bunch and take one or two out on your jaunt. If they are lost or stolen you will not have to worry about loosing you back account.
Credit & Debit Card Transaction Fees
The U.S. Congress passed the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (CARD) Act in 2009 that tightened the rules that financial institutions must abide by so consumers are better protected from predatory institutions. But as in most U.S. laws there were “loopholes”. Financial institutions, not Mr. Webster, get to identify what a foreign transaction is when you use a credit or debit card. When you use a card outside the United States, you can pay up to 3% of the transaction to your institution as well as the institution giving you money via an ATM or cash advance. This would apply if your institution had a branch where you are obtaining your own money. Your institution needs this fee because the computer performs this conversion in one-billionth of a second.
In addition to paying a fee for your institution converting the exchange, there are other ways they can extract this fee. If you make a purchase from your home and the charge is in U.S. dollars, you can be hit with fee if the transaction goes thru a foreign bank. It is still considered a foreign transaction. Retailers overseas are offering to write your bill for goods or services in U.S. dollars and not in the local currency. This is called dynamic currency conversion. That may sound like a nice gesture on their part but it is a moneymaker for them. That means you are losing money on the deal. When a merchant charges you in dollars, they receive a fee from the bank or credit card company they are using. This fee along with the transaction fee shows up on your statement when you get back.
So far I have had little problems using my cards overseas, but that could change for me soon. U.S. institutions are reluctant to change their cards from magnetic swipe to microchip embedded and that could be a problem for U.S. travelers overseas. The processing equipment being used looks for information in the cards. When I used my card without a chip I was asked to show photo identification. This was not a big deal with me but what would have happened had I not have photo ID? I witnessed a woman ask another woman if she would buy her a pack a cigarettes from a vending machine in Germany. The machine, which did not accept cash, reads the chip which verifies the persons age. Using a swipe card would not have worked. Changes are coming, for better or worse and U.S. institutions are not helping us by lagging behind advanced technology. They are also not helping travelers with abhorrent fees.
I have been told that some cards issued by Credit Unions may not work overseas. If you are new to this or haven’t traveled for a while call your bank and check out the details.
Computer Planning
Computers with Internet and search engines have changed our lives and how we do things. This document could be massive if I tried to put all that I would like to have in it but it is un-necessary. Almost all information about travel can change without notice but it is no longer an issue thanks to the world-wide-web. Visit some of the websites I have included, as this will bring you with the most up-to-date information. Do take advantage of Google Maps to see where you are going. Click the satellite button to see cities from above and get a lay of the land.
Contact Information at Home
I recommend that you take the name, address, phone & fax and e-mail information with you for people that you or the authorities may need to get in contact with. This should be on paper and should include family members, friends, doctors and hospitals and your place of employment. You should also leave with family or others you trust with information on how to contact you. This could help in a worst case scenario but it can also help if you lost a credit card or just want to make sure that you turned the gas off. See Traveling with Children below.
Customs & Immigration (This works with Document Control, below)
Make sure you keep your tickets, boarding pass and passport with you in your carry-on bag. You will need your passport to board the plane and to pass through Immigration and security checkpoints. You will not be able to get your luggage until you get through Customs Inspection. Additionally, you will need to fill-out a landing card when you land in London and coming back home. Don’t forget to take a pen. You will also need your driver’s license or other government issued ID to pass security. Not all checkpoints ask for your passport but rather your photo ID. Driver’s licenses have “things” embedded in them that can only be read by “special” equipment.
It is pretty well known that customs and immigration officials have no sense of humor. Trying to joke with them does not always go well as we have seen in the news. It is rare but an agent does bring out a smile on traveler’s faces now and then. This is a true story. I was next in line at Gatwick to be interviewed by an immigration agent. It was 6:30 in the morning and the family ahead of me was finished, but slow to exit. The agent started to push them along and asked them to keep the isle open. He said, “after all, these are the British Isles”. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the British humor that awaits you after you arrive in merry old England.
Additionally, this is a good time to make you aware of the difference between American English and British English. Americans “take a vacation” whereas the Brits “go on holiday”. If too much fun results in an injury, we go to a hospital and they go to hospital. Go figure?
Deals
As far-fetched as this may seem, it is not uncommon for airlines and hotels to offers specials and not advertize them. Contact the service provider when planning your trip to see if they can offer something extra. Talking to a real person is the best way to make a deal. Sometimes they will give you something just to get your business. Be on your best behavior.
Disability Issues
I have had an artificial leg since 2001 so I am keenly aware of what it is like to transverse London and the pit-falls it presents. London is a very old city and as hard as they are trying it is not very friendly to the disabled. The tube has some wheel chair access stations but buy and large you will encounter hundreds of steps and escalators. The bus is better for those in wheel chairs but they can be problematic, especially at rush hour.
As for hotels, not all of them may have lifts. My biggest problem is the bath. As older hotels are small the bath may have only a shower and no tub. I cannot take my leg in a shower so I make sure the hotel has a tub. Even so, the baths can be so small that a wheel chair will not fit into one let alone closing the door.
Access to buildings is getting much better but still don’t expect easy access to all. Many people with disabilities live and work in London and it can be done. But as a visitor you may find it more difficult than those who live there. Please do not be discouraged in going but do inquire about you hotel.
Document Control
In addition to having a luggage tag placed on your bag I place a paper with my name and travel itinerary inside each checked bag. This can help if your bags are lost. Make several copies of you passport photo page. One should be in each bag and keep two with you. If you should loose your passport they will come in handy.
Flight Scheduling
If you are flying to London with a stop at a connecting airport you need to schedule your time wisely. You should plan for at least an hour to transfer on you London bound flight. At least an hour and a half when returning as you will go through immigration and customs. The more time the better and more in summer. Do not rely on the airline’s website to allow for this. Just because they can land you it does not mean they allow for the transfer time. Remember too that your incoming flight can be delayed in departure or landing. Expect the unexpected. See the US Airways document in this guide for more information.
I came back into the states once with a lot of time before my fight to Pittsburgh. I was able to fly standby on an earlier flight but my luggage was in the system to go with my scheduled flight. I took the standby flight. I would rather wait near my car rather than across the state. I was also able to drive back to the airport the next day to retrieve my luggage. This may not be a bad option if you live or work near the airport.
See the Flight Calculator segment in the US Airways document for more.
Home Issues
Make sure that you will not run out of you medication, notify the post office, feed the cat and check your utility bills. I pay mine by check (yes, still, and with a stamp too) and this could present problems. Not the stamp, but the pay date. I have been gone for three weeks at times and some of my bills have arrived and became past due before I came home. Make these issues a part of your holiday planning.
Hotel Reservations
I have more on this in another document. If you happen to land in London without a place to stay do not worry. Finding a hotel in London is as easy as finding a coffee shop. Train stations and travel centers are good places to start as they can help you find a place and make the reservation for you.
London Planner – Visit Britain
London Planner is the British Tourist Authority’s official monthly guide to London. This is their worldwide access page and this is the page for the United States. You can contact one of their British travel experts toll-free at 1 (800) 462-2748 (US), 1 (888) VISIT UK (Canada), Monday – Friday from 9am to 5pm EST. Alternatively, you can direct your questions and comments via email to travelinfo@visitbritain.org and receive a personalized response.
For London Planner: http://www.visitlondon.com/maps/guides/london-planner. Copies of London Planner are distributed across the UK and in London. The places are listed on their site.
This page has information on transport passes; the London Travel card and the London Oyster Card. The information they have is good and you can buy cards for different zones. Some outlets only provide for all zones. However, the information they give for the Oyster is with respect to the pay-as-you-go scheme. The visit london page has Travel with Oyster, which explains the travel card marriage with Oyster. The travelcard page has good information.
They have a London kit for about $118 (as of October 2009), which seems to be good for visitors. This is for one adult ticket.
Mail
I was going to place this in a different document but you may want to mail something over. Addressing envelopes for overseas delivery is pretty much the same as sending a birthday card across town. The one difference in sending mail across the pond is that you need to tell the post office what country the mail is going to. Address mail as shown below and remember, the country must be on the last line by itself. This is required when sending mail to overseas no matter what country you are in.
Remember Mom
Address
City, Post Code
England
The name of the county must be the last line. This applies to mail leaving the UK, so write USA under the City, State, Zip line.
Money Issues
You may want to make arrangements to have British pounds when you arrive. I find it easier to just withdraw money from an airport ATM. If you desire local currency upon arrival you can use third party vendors such as TravelexTM. You can get cash sent to you or visit your local AAA office. They are free of fees and shipping is free for orders over $1000 USD. They also have Travelex CashPaxTM and cost $100 USD per bundle. They convert the exchange for you and you receive the cash in GBP.
Call 1-866-339-3378 for home orders
Maps
Go to http://www.a-zmps.co.uk and see digital maps for use with laptops, PDA’s and phones.
Passport Information
Your passport should have you full legal name and that should be the same as you use when you order your airline tickets. If there is a noticeable discrepancy you could be delayed and questioned at checkpoints or boarding. Once you get squared away in your hotel, you are not required to carry your passport with you. You may need to show photo ID for financial transactions or paying with a credit card. Your driver or non-driver’s ID will do. This may be moot some day very soon but merchants are using new card swipes that read a microchip embedded in the card. Some US issued cards may not have the chip, which prompts the ID request.
When you enter the UK as a typical American tourist you are permitted to stay for up to six months. If you plan of staying longer or engage in some sort of work or business you will need a visa. This may take some time so you should plan well ahead. See the document, UK Embassy in America.
Passport Information in Pittsburgh
The County of Allegheny has information on their website about applying for a new or renewed passport. The site is: http://www.alleghenycounty.us/cofc/pass.aspx. The office was housed in the County Court House until late summer of 2008. It is now located in the City-County building next to the Marriage License office. You will need to pass through a metal detector when you enter the building.
Security Issues
You need to be aware of what may come your way during your journey. You may be faced with restrictions and prohibitions going through airports and aircraft. It would be a good idea to check the government web sites listed in this work as well as you airline or other travel providers. The US Government continues to have issues with liquids on board aircraft and have or may issue further notices.
Liquids and creams are only permitted past checkpoints in full-unopened containers not to exceeding 3.4 ounces (100ml) Empty or partially full bottles are prohibited.
As of January 1, 2008, lithium batteries are not permitted in checked luggage unless installed in a device. Spare lithium batteries can be brought thru in your carry-on bag. The concern with these in checked bags is that they could short out and cause a fire. A major US electronics retailer had old batteries in a glass container on the counter for customer drop-off. They didn’t play well together and a heated fire broke out burning down the store. See the TSA website for this and more up-dates.
Most airlines permit one carry-on bag and one personal item such as a laptop or purse. If you are traveling thru Gatwick Airport, South Terminal (US Airways does) you may want to check Gatwick’s website for carry-on bag restrictions. In early 2008 the airport was limiting one piece per passenger.
When you enter many public (museums, etc.) or private buildings in London you may be asked to remove the contents of you coat and you hand bags may be inspected. I once viewed art in the Canadian Embassy in London and had to pass through a metal detector to gain entry.
Travel Insurance
Some people take out insurance and others do not. What do you have to loose and what is it worth to you. Airlines have responsibilities to you but only if the fault is their. If you opt for insurance think about getting it from a third party. If your group offers it and goes under you policy is also sunk. Should you get a policy from a third party make sure that it pays if your tour company defaults.
Traveling with Children
If you are a single parent or grand parent and traveling with young children you may want to have additional information with you. Authorities are showing more awareness towards parents kidnapping one of their own from a separated spouse. You may have to prove the identity of your child, especially if he or she has a different last name. Grandparents and other family members may want to take note of this. You may want to have a written letter from the other parent. With today’s computers you may want to place a photo of both parents and children on a document (with signatures) and have it notarized. Don’t forget contact information such as phone numbers of the parents.
Toy Libraries for Children
This may not be a tourist attraction but I have to post this as it is so interesting, Toy libraries can be found for the
Toy Libraries from the City of London government
National Association of Toy and Leisure Libraries
Toy Library in Lewisham
Toy Library in Pimlico from Visit London
Story from Families Online.co.uk
Do a Google search to seek further.
Traveling with Children Story
This is a true story. Years ago, my buddy and his wife were traveling across several states to visit relatives. They had their 2 year old with them. They could not figure why state troopers were following them but once surrounded they were forced to a stop on the side of the road. The troopers separated them from the child and grilled them as to the identity of the little girl. They had no proof that the child was theirs, nobody answered phones back home and the child gave the wrong answer. She had a shirt from Disney Land but said it was from Disney World. My friends were off to jail. After being grilled on the side of the road for a long time, a supervisor came and asked the same questions. They were in the state that the wife was born and where they were married. The trooper knew the small town where she was from and the pastor’s name. He also knew that outsiders could never pronounce the pastor’s name correctly. After a short chat they were free to go. They were not told what prompted the pullover but they think somebody called in a missing child report at a rest stop.
Tourist Stuff
Most bookstores have a lot of good information that you can read before you go. A good magazine is TIME OUT LONDON. It has everything going on in London for a one-week period starting on Wednesday. They are sold everywhere in London and most bookstores in the states, albeit hard to find here most times.